51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha - Washougal Race Report

51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha

Washougal National Race Report

Livingston, CA. (July 31, 2017) -  The 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha Team made its first appearance in the 450 class at the Washougal Motocross National this past weekend. The team has been working with Justin Hoeft (#244) in preparation for the '18 SX season and decided a trip up north to race PIR and then Washougal was a perfect elixir away from the heat and dry practice tracks of SoCal.   

On Thursday, the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha Team made their way to the famous Portland International Raceway for the 51st annual Thursday Night Motocross. This race always brings out serious talent and the fun, family oriented atmosphere made a great setting for Hoeft to shake down his Yamaha YZ450F. Hoeft came out swinging with a heat race win and, after a great battle, finished 3rd in the Pro Main Event. 

The picturesque Washougal Motocross Park was the stage for round 9 of the AMA Pro Motocross Championship and a track Justin had seen incredible amateur success. In Moto 1, Justin rocketed off with his Twisted Development-tuned Yamaha YZ450F powerplant. He rounded turn 2 up front and charged up Horsepower Hill in 5th position with the world's fastest 450 racers. The challenging track battled all of the riders, but Hoeft showed a fast combination of speed, patience, and maturity that would eventually land him in 11th. 

When the gate dropped for Moto 2, Justin's position got closed out going into the first turn. He didn't let this derail his efforts as he put his head down and proceeded to fight his way through the pack. Hoeft seemed to only get stronger as the conditions got worse and the track deteriorated. He fought hard for the duration of the race and crossed the line in 14th position.

Hoeft's 11-14 Moto scores landed him 11th Overall, marking him as the top Yamaha rider in the ever-competitive 450MX field.  

"I'm stoked with how this whole weekend went," said Justin Hoeft in a post-race interview. "Thursday Night Motocross went really well. I won the heat and then ran up front with those guys all the way to the finish and came away with 3rd. It was a great foreshadow for Saturday. Practice at Washougal went well, and the team had my bike working great on the track. I got an awesome start in the first moto, but got passed a little ways into it. Once I settled down a bit I was able to ride smart and fast laps. This is only my second Pro National so I'm really excited to come out with an 11th overall."

The 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha Team would like to thank all of our dedicated team sponsors who help make this possible. Be on the lookout for the 51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha Team at other select motocross events this summer. 

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51FIFTY Energy Drink Yamaha is aided by support of our great sponsors including Yamaha, Allied Packaging, Carlos Vieira Racing, bLU cRU, Bolt Hardware, Costa Rica Unlimited, Cometic Gaskets, Company West, Cycra, Crank Works, DeCal Works, Dunlop, DT1, Evans Cooling, Fox, FMF, Galfer, Hinson Clutch Components, Hot Cams, IMS Products, Matrix, Mechanix Wear, ODI, Pivot Works, Powerlift, Push Marketing Agency, RK Excel, SDI, Sunstar, Shift, TM Designworks, Twisted Development, Works Connection, Vertex Pistons, Vortex Ignitions, VP Fuels, and Xtrig.

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